Takeover Tuesday: Branding Revisited

Following the last post, I was asked to provide some thoughts on the idea of companies encouraging their employees to engage in "personal branding".  Not knowing what that meant, I had to ask for clarification.  It is, as was explained to me, the act of projecting an appearance, managing your image, and other such rot, all for a specific purpose.  A quick internet search confirmed this, while simultaneously setting off a gag reflex.  I imagine that the purpose is strictly career related and involves "getting ahead".  I won't go much into detail here other than to say unequivocally that it is the absolute worst form of branding.  Not that it does not work for its intended purpose, but that there is nothing good in its intended purpose.  It validates the corrosive and dehumanizing aspects of a sterile corporate environment.  I have to ask, as before, can the full scope of one's being be contained within a slogan?  The obvious answer is no, and those who believe that theirs can be are, again, artificially reducing themselves to a fake, 2D version of their full human self.  As a final note on this idea, I do think the previous post applies to this particular form of branding even better than the specifics I mentioned.

What I think may be better to explore is the question of why employers find it necessary to direct employees in actions outside their purview.  In a healthy economic model, employees are hired to perform a function in the business, not a commodity to be managed by the employer.  Employees agree to sell their time and talents in return for compensation, they should not be asked to sell anything else.  This problem points to a disordered system.  Work, rightly considered, is a necessary fact of life, not the core.  Its place is properly found alongside sleep and brushing your teeth, though I do love a good sleep far more than a day at work.  So maybe alongside taking out the trash.  You get the point.

The most wonderful time of the year

Well, it certainly was a interesting couple of days. We will just say that thing did not go exactly according to plan!  I am so happy that we were able to keep a sense of humor about us and not turn it into a stressful time. I look forward to the day that we will look back and laugh about that "one awful Christmas".
The kids are happy. For the most part, Santa brought them what they wanted. We had a few sad moments, when we didn't get "THE" item. But it has passed and we are now appreciative for what we did get. We had a wonderful time visiting with all of our family this holiday season. It was nice to see some that we had not seen in quite awhile!
All in All, we are a very lucky family. It can be so chaotic with a large family, but I wouldn't want it any other way!! Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2010

Well, Christmas is coming. SOON. I hope that I am going to be ready for it. Christmas with 5 kids is so very exhausting. It is hard to believe that we will be having our last "first Christmas". I am having a hard time accepting that.  I feel like I need to make it extra special, but, yes, I know, she will not even notice. I guess it would be for me really. But I have this desire to go all out. Which is not really a possibility. Which is where the 5 kids= exhausting comes into play. It is always hard to make sure that I have 1 on 1 time with each of the kids, but at Christmas time, it is really really hard.  We barely found time to put up a tree this year. We did finally get it up, and what a beautiful tree it is. haha. The kids went to town on decorating it. And I just let them do what ever they wanted. Usually, I stress myself out trying to make it at least look decent, but this year, who cares. They had so much fun. Keep in mind, it is basically a ring around the middle. It can't go too low or the baby will get it, and it only goes as high as the kids can reach. As, the bulbs get knocked down, which they in-evidently will, I try to space them out a bit. But really this is a great part of Christmas, let the kids have their fun!!
On Thursday, the kids are having their Christmas parties at school. Should be interesting. Brian and I are signed up to help run the party in Abby class. We are also in charge of all the food. They are doing a "fancy" Caitlin restaurant theme.  So, it is actually a meal. Should be interesting. Let's hope all goes well. Will be sure to post after!!

Bumper stickers, tattoos, and branding.

First off, I’d like to lodge a complaint with management.  I won’t since I’m here rent free, but I’d like to.  I proposed this be named, “And now for something completely different..” as a shameless rip-off of Monty Python, and because I do believe it will apply.  Alas, it didn’t comply with house rules, and it is Tuesday.

I’ve never cared  for bumper stickers, but never thought to consider why.  Likewise, I never much cared for tattoos or the corporate trend of branding.    

The problem with any of the above is not that there is something wrong or improper about making a public statement by any of these means, but it does something that I think is unintentional.  It limits the announcer.  It by definition reduces the announcer.  I came across this by Chesterton.  It was one of those cases where, as he often does, he makes an offhand comment that is indisputably true in order to make some point or other about a specific issue, which you realize is a universal truth that can be applied anywhere as needed.  In this case I think he was making some rebuttal to some at the time recent claim by his perpetual antagonist, Mr. Bernard Shaw, in regards to free will.  Anyhow, the comment went along the lines of the fact that to choose any action is, by definition, limiting or excluding.  By choosing one act, you are simultaneously choosing not to act in every other way.  As one may imagine, dwelling on this idea can easily lead one to paralysis. 

There is a point here.  By choosing to place on your truck a bumper sticker showing a character with the likeness of Calvin letting loose on a Ford emblem tells the world that, above all else, you dislike an American corporation that makes automobiles a lot less than a different American corporation that makes automobiles.  The full scope of this individual’s concerns in the world, so far as I can tell, is who owns the plant in Mexico that made their truck.  Viva Saltillo!  It also shows that you’ve got no respect for Bill Watterson, which is unforgivable.  

At the other end of the spectrum,  take the “COEXIST” bumper sticker, invariably attached to the bumper of either a Volvo or Prius driven by a middle-aged woman fancying herself morally superior to the commoners she must believe to only care about truck manufacturers and killing foreigners.  Rodney King, that most clairvoyant of philosophers, said the same thing more intelligibly.

I think this also applies to the others, branding and tattoos.  It’s common for corporations to take on “branding” initiatives.  This again is by its nature limiting.  Branding boils down to creating some visual and/or aural stamp (tattoo) that sums up the corporation’s philosophy.  See for example, tattoos and bumper stickers.  I understand it has a monetary payback, if it didn’t, corporations wouldn’t do it.  But I believe the “uneasiness” I have with it is that the idea even exists.  I don’t think this idea of corporate branding could ever exist in an environment where there were REAL, clear differences between companies or products.  Think a local brewery…  The good ones don’t need slogans.  The beer at a typical microbrewery should be unique, and its identity is upheld in what IT IS, not what their sign says.  Likewise, I believe that the individuals slapping these stickers on their cars are unique, and are not so self limiting as their announcements suggest.

I’ve more to say on this, but I’ve been told my allotted time is up, so I’ll leave it here. 

Theme day

Ok, well it looks like I have pick a theme day for my blog. Or rather it has picked me. My husband decided he would like to "guest blog" on my page.  So starting tomorrow, it will be Take Over Tuesday.  Why does he not simply get his own blog you ask? No idea. But he is a really good writer. It will be interesting to see what topics he picks. Hopefully, it will be interesting!! Probably better than my posts!  LOL!

Responsibility

Too somewhat steal an idea from and fellow blogger but also due to some new circumstances, I wanted to talk about FB. I do not think that FB is evil or wrong,  in fact, I think it can be really great,when used properly.  But who determines what is a proper use? I have recently been "friended" by some very young friends.  Now, I am not sure how I feel about this. I have always viewed my FB, as "my time" some grown up time, if you will. I get on after the kids go to bed, catch up on life and relax. Now, I feel as though I need to monitor everything that I say and do. Now keep in mind, I don't really do anything R rated, but the possibility is there if I really need to. But is the responsibility really mine? Shouldn't the parents of these young kids be responsible. They know there is stuff out there, that I would hope they wouldn't want their kids to be a part of.
Plus, once again it is challenging my parenting decisions. Because they are not much older than my own children. This will cause problems on my own home front.  Once they realize what is going on, I will once again, because world's worst mom. ugh.  This is really bugging me.  Because I really feel like I am between a rock and a hard place.  To not friend this child could be a big problem, but if I do, I will always feel monitored.

sickness

Ok, well I am at that awful point, where as a parent you have to decide if you need to take your sick kid in for a dr visit. Actually x2. Neither one is a clear cut case, I wonder if I am reading more into it than I should, I think I am feeling the pressure because the dr office will be closed for the long holiday weekend. And it would have to be pretty damn bad for me to go to the stupid urgent care. So, now I will spend tonight trying to decide what to do. Emelia has been sick for a couple of weeks now, really just a cold. But she has been so fussy the last couple of days, it makes me wonder if it has settled into a ear infection or something. She also digs in her ear and makes it bleed. But there is no fever and really no other symptoms. Just a lot of nasal fluid and a worried mama. Ugh. I hate making decisions. I really wish I had an on call free pediatrician at my disposal.  Seems like something they would give you after your 5th baby. Although at this point, I feel like I could almost pass a medical exam. But no, they sent me home with nothing, just like every other time. I guess I will see how the night goes, if we don't sleep, we will go in. I guess that is my decision for now.  I HATE cold & flu season!!